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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This Florida woman, 78, lives in her car — as more seniors in the Sunshine State suddenly face homelessness
South Florida resident Carolyn is 78 years old — and at a time in her life when she should be enjoying life's comforts, she's instead living in her car because she can't afford a home. 'I look at it as a journey. I've had many journeys in my life,' she told WSVN 7News in a story published May 13. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Carolyn isn't the only older American in that boat. A growing portion of seniors in parts of Florida are grappling with homelessness — and the problem is projected to keep getting worse. Carolyn had been living in her vehicle for two months at the time, and 7News reports she has only Social Security for income. She doesn't share her monthly benefit, but the average retired worker today collects about $2,000 a month. Carolyn has sold many of her possessions, but simply doesn't have enough money. In the absence of a bed, she sleeps upright in her car instead of lying down. 'I sleep here in this seat, scrunched down. My ankles and legs are swollen from having to sit all the time,' she said. 'I buy jug water, it's cheaper. And I eat one meal a day, for $2.02.' Thanks to her Medicare plan, Carolyn has free access to a gym where she can shower, per 7News. But she still needs a home. Cassandra Rhett, the Housing and Social Services Manager for the City of Pompano Beach, is trying to help find her one. Rhett was inspired to help knowing that anyone could end up in a situation like Carolyn's. 'It could be my aunt, it could be my mother. It just breaks my heart just how humble Carolyn is,' she told 7News with tears in her eyes. Rhett blames the situation on skyrocketing rents. Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, says that homeless seniors are incredibly vulnerable and in need of help. 'We know if you put vulnerable elderly on the street, they're going to die earlier,' he told 7News. 'The face of homelessness has changed. I want people in our community to think about their mothers, and their grandmothers, and their grandfathers being homeless for the first time.' In 2019, people aged 65 and older made up nearly 8% of the homeless population in Miami-Dade County, according to 7News, citing data from the Homeless Trust. By 2024, that number reached 14%, and it's projected to climb to 22% by 2030. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Meanwhile, Carolyn's car recently started to leak following a period of rain. Rhett says the city has put Carolyn up in a hotel for now — while she works to find the senior permanent housing. Carolyn hopes sharing her story sheds light on the problem at hand. 'It can happen to anyone. Don't think it can't,' she warned. Americans aged 50 and over are the fastest growing group of people who are going homeless in the country, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness, meanwhile, reports that in 2023, roughly 138,000 Americans aged 55 and older experienced homelessness on a given night, representing 20% of all homeless individuals. Florida was among the states with the highest proportion of older adults. The organization also noted, in 2020, that 5 million Americans aged 65 and over lived below the poverty line, which at the time was $12,760 for a household of one, per HHS data. There are a few reasons why older Americans may not be able to afford housing. First, many people who reach retirement have only Social Security to live on. A 2024 AARP survey found that 20% of Americans aged 50 and over had no retirement savings. As noted earlier, the average retired worker Social Security benefit is about $2,000 a month. But Zillow puts the average U.S. rent for a one-bedroom unit at just under $1,600 per month. In addition to worrying about rent, health costs tend to rise with age. And those with limited incomes sometimes have to choose between paying for medical care and medication versus other bills. It's important that seniors at risk of homelessness know how to get access to the support they need. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, has an online tool to help people seek out emergency shelter, as well as food pantries and health clinics. You can also use this list of resources to find homeless assistance programs in your state. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
3 suspects arrested in Florida luxury car theft ring — 1 stolen car was $300K 2020 Rolls-Royce. How the scheme works.
When you picture car theft, you might imagine someone breaking a window and hotwiring a car. But it's increasingly more sophisticated than that. Police busted three men in connection with a luxury car theft scheme in Miami Beach. Nader Eldamou, who lives in Detroit, was one of the victims. He shared his story with Miami Fox affiliate WSVN 7News. His car still hasn't been recovered. "The car is a $300,000 car, Rolls-Royce, gone," he said. A near-record number of Americans are grappling with $1,000 car payments and many drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to stay ahead 5 ways to boost your net worth now — easily up your money game without altering your day-to-day life Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) Here's what the thieves did, along with tips to help you avoid falling victim to this particular scam, which police report is a growing trend. Instead of hotwiring cars on the street, the Miami Beach car thieves targeted vehicle dispatchers and transporters — companies contracted to pick up vehicles and deliver them to car shows, dealers and other destinations across the U.S. The thieves managed to fool the dispatchers and transporters into changing the destinations to deliver luxury cars directly to them in Florida so they could drive away with it. "They present paperwork that seems legitimate, and they go away with the vehicle,' said Miami Beach Police spokesperson Christopher Bess. Police uncovered the scheme in January when Eldamou reported his Rolls-Royce missing. It was supposed to have been picked up in Miami Beach and delivered to an auto shop in Detroit, but never arrived. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Police traced the fake shipping arrangement to Armenian and Russian brokers and spoke to a delivery driver caught up in the scam. The innocent driver had been unknowingly rerouted and delivered luxury cars — including a Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini Urus and Audi R8 — to locations throughout Hallandale Beach. Video surveillance footage showed suspects following the transport vehicles and picking up the cars after they were rerouted to the wrong location. To bust the car theft ring, police set up a sting. They organized a controlled delivery of a Lamborghini Urus. Three men arrived in a stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley and paid $700 for delivery of the Lamborghini. Police arrested all three men and recovered two stolen cars at the scene of the crime, but Eldamou's Rolls-Royce is still missing. As car transport fraud is a growing trend, police offer these tips to foil con artists: Use a GPS tracking system on your car. You can contact your car dealer to install one. Research any transport companies that are going to move your car to any destination. Confirm no one has rerouted delivery of your car when a third-party service picks up your vehicle for deliveryy. Otherwise, you may never see your car again. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) 'Savers are losers': Robert Kiyosaki warned that millions of 401(k)s and IRAs will be 'toast' — here's his advice for older Americans who want to protect their wealth Suze Orman: If you think you're ready to retire, think again — 4 critical money moves to avoid a financial crisis in retirement This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
